Foundations of World Unity
\' >> \'Abdu\'l Baha >> Foundations of World Unityby 'Abdu'l-Baha
Edition 1, (September 2006)
BAHA'I TERMS OF USE
You have permission to freely make and use copies of the text and any
other information ("Content") available on this Site including printing,
emailing, posting, distributing, copying, downloading, uploading,
transmitting, displaying the Content in whole or in part subject to the
following:
1. Our copyright notice and the source reference must be attached to the
Content;
2. The Content may not be modified or altered in any way except to change
the font or appearance;
3. The Content must be used solely for a non-commercial purpose.
Although this blanket permission to reproduce the Content is given freely
such that no special permission is required, the Baha'i International
Community retains full copyright protection for all Content included at
this Site under all applicable national and international laws.
For permission to publish, transmit, display or otherwise use the Content
for any commercial purpose, please contact us
(http://reference.bahai.org/en/contact.html).
CONTENTS
Baha'i Terms of Use
THE TRUE MODERNISM
THE SOURCE OF REALITY
THE DAWN OF PEACE
THE CAUSE OF STRIFE
UNIVERSAL PEACE
THE PROPHETS AND WAR
FOUNDATIONS OF WORLD UNITY
RACIAL HARMONY
THE SPIRIT OF JUSTICE
COOPERATION
"The question of socialization is very important. It will not be..."
THE CRITERIONS OF TRUTH
MAN AND NATURE
THE MICROCOSM AND THE MACROCOSM
THE UNIVERSAL CYCLES
EDUCATION
THE HOLY SPIRIT
SCIENCE
SPIRITUAL SPRINGTIME
ETERNAL UNITY
THE DARKENED LIGHTS
THE NEED OF DIVINE EDUCATION
RELIGION: ESSENTIAL AND NON-ESSENTIAL
RELIGION RENEWED
DIVINE LOVE
THE FOUNDATION OF RELIGION
THE QUICKENING SPIRIT
THE LAW OF GOD
CONTINUITY OF REVELATION
THE TRUE MODERNISM
All created things have their degree or stage of maturity. The period of
maturity in the life of a tree is the time of its fruit-bearing. The
maturity of a plant is the time of its blossoming and flower. The animal
attains a stage of full growth and completeness, and in the human kingdom
man reaches his maturity when the lights of intelligence have their
greatest power and development.
From the beginning to the end of his life man passes through certain
periods or stages each of which is marked by certain conditions peculiar
to itself. For instance during the period of childhood his conditions and
requirements are characteristic of that degree of intelligence and
capacity. After a time he enters the period of youth in which his former
conditions and needs are superseded by new requirements applicable to the
advance in his degree. His faculties of observation are broadened and
deepened, his intelligent capacities are trained and awakened, the
limitations and environment of childhood no longer restrict his energies
and accomplishments. At last he passes out of the period of youth and
enters the stage or station of maturity which necessitates another
transformation and corresponding advance in his sphere of life-activity.
New powers and perceptions clothe him, teaching and training commensurate
with his progression occupy his mind, special bounties and bestowals
descend in proportion to his increased capacities and his former period of
youth and its conditions will no longer satisfy his matured view and
vision.
Similarly there are periods and stages in the life of the aggregate world
of humanity which at one time was passing through its degree of childhood,
at another its time of youth but now has entered its long presaged period
of maturity, the evidences of which are everywhere visible and apparent.
Therefore the requirements and conditions of former periods have changed
and merged into exigencies which distinctly characterize the present age
of the world of mankind. That which was applicable to human needs during
the early history of the race could neither meet nor satisfy the demands
of this day and period of newness and consummation. Humanity has emerged
from its former degrees of limitation and preliminary training. Man must
now become imbued with new virtues and powers, new moralities, new
capacities. New bounties, bestowals and perfections are awaiting and
already descending upon him. The gifts and graces of the period of youth
although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of the world of
mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its maturity.
The playthings of childhood and infancy no longer satisfy or interest the
adult mind.
From every standpoint the world of humanity is undergoing a re-formation.
The laws of former governments and civilizations are in process of
revision, scientific ideas and theories are developing and advancing to
meet a new range of phenomena, invention and discovery are penetrating
hitherto unknown fields revealing new wonders and hidden secrets of the
material universe; industries have vastly wider scope and production;
everywhere the world of mankind is in the throes of evolutionary activity
indicating the passing of the old conditions and advent of the new age of
re-formation. Old trees yield no fruitage; old ideas and methods are
obsolete and worthless now. Old standards of ethics, moral codes and
methods of living in the past will not suffice for the present age of
advancement and progress.
This is the cycle of maturity and re-formation in religion as well.
Dogmatic imitations of ancestral beliefs are passing. They have been the
axis around which religion revolved but now are no longer fruitful; on the
contrary, in this day they have become the cause of human degradation and
hindrance. Bigotry and dogmatic adherence to ancient beliefs have become
the central and fundamental source of animosity among men, the obstacle to
human progress, the cause of warfare and strife, the destroyer of peace,
composure and welfare in the world. Consider conditions in the Balkans
today(1); fathers, mothers, children in grief and lamentation, the
foundations of life overturned, cities laid waste and fertile lands made
desolate by the ravages of war. These conditions are the outcome of
hostility and hatred between nations and peoples of religion who imitate
and adhere to the forms and violate the spirit and reality of the divine
teachings.
While this is true and apparent, it is likewise evident that the Lord of
mankind has bestowed infinite bounties upon the world in this century of
maturity and consummation. The ocean of divine mercy is surging, the
vernal showers are descending, the Sun of Reality is shining gloriously.
Heavenly teachings applicable to the advancement in human conditions have
been revealed in this merciful age. This re-formation and renewal of the
fundamental reality of religion constitute the true and outworking spirit
of modernism, the unmistakable light of the world, the manifest effulgence
of the Word of God, the divine remedy for all human ailment and the bounty
of eternal life to all mankind.
THE SOURCE OF REALITY
In our solar system, the center of illumination is the sun itself. Through
the will of God this central luminary is the one source of the existence
and development of all phenomenal things. When we observe the organisms of
the material kingdoms we find that their growth and training are dependent
upon the heat and light of the sun. Without this quickening impulse there
would be no growth of tree or vegetation, neither would the existence of
animal or human being be possible; in fact no forms of created life would
be manifest upon the earth. But if we reflect deeply we will perceive that
the great bestower and giver of life is God; the sun is the intermediary
of His will and plan. Without the bounty of the sun therefore the world
would be in darkness. All illumination of our planetary system proceeds or
emanates from the solar center.
Likewise in the spiritual realm of intelligence and idealism there must be
a center of illumination, and that center is the everlasting, ever-shining
Sun, the Word of God. Its lights are the lights of reality which have
shone upon humanity, illumining the realm of thought and morals,
conferring the bounties of the divine world upon man. These lights are the
cause of the education of souls and the source of the enlightenment of
hearts, sending forth in effulgent radiance the message of the
glad-tidings of the Kingdom of God. In brief, the moral and ethical world
and the world of spiritual regeneration are dependent for their
progressive being upon that heavenly center of illumination. It gives
forth the light of religion and bestows the life of the spirit, imbues
humanity with archetypal virtues and confers eternal splendors. This Sun
of Reality, this center of effulgences is the prophet or Manifestation of
God. Just as the phenomenal sun shines upon the material world producing
life and growth, likewise the spiritual or prophetic Sun confers
illumination upon the human world of thought and intelligence, and unless
it rose upon the horizon of human existence the kingdom of man would
become dark and extinguished.
The Sun of Reality is one Sun but it has different dawning-places, just as
the phenomenal sun is one although it appears at various points of the
horizon. During the time of spring the luminary of the physical world
rises far to the north of the equinoctial; in summer it dawns midway and
in winter it appears in the most southerly point of its zodiacal journey.
These day-springs or dawning-points differ widely but the sun is ever the
same sun whether it be the phenomenal or spiritual luminary. Souls who
focus their vision upon the Sun of Reality will be the recipients of light
no matter from what point it rises, but those who are fettered by
adoration of the dawning-point are deprived when it appears in a different
station upon the spiritual horizon.
Furthermore, just as the solar cycle has its four seasons, the cycle of
the Sun of Reality has its distinct and successive periods. Each brings
its vernal season or springtime. When the Sun of Reality returns to
quicken the world of mankind a divine bounty descends from the heaven of
generosity. The realm of thoughts and ideals is set in motion and blessed
with new life. Minds are developed, hopes brighten, aspirations become
spiritual, the virtues of the human world appear with freshened power of
growth and the image and likeness of God become visible in man. It is the
springtime of the inner world. After the spring, summer comes with its
fullness and fruitage spiritual; autumn follows with its withering winds
which chill the soul; the Sun seems to be going away until at last the
mantle of winter overspreads and only faint traces of the effulgence of
that divine Sun remain. Just as the surface of the material world becomes
dark and dreary, the soil dormant, the trees naked and bare and no beauty
or freshness remain to cheer the darkness and desolation, so the winter of
the spiritual cycle witnesses the death and disappearance of divine growth
and extinction of the light and love of God. But again the cycle begins
and a new springtime appears. In it the former springtime has returned,
the world is resuscitated, illumined and attains spirituality; religion is
renewed and reorganized, hearts are turned to God, the summons of God is
heard and life is again bestowed upon man. For a long time the religious
world had been weakened and materialism had advanced; the spiritual forces
of life were waning, moralities were becoming degraded, composure and
peace had vanished from souls and satanic qualities were dominating
hearts; strife and hatred overshadowed humanity, bloodshed and violence
prevailed. God was neglected; the Sun of Reality seemed to have gone
completely; deprivation of the bounties of heaven was a fact; and so the
season of winter fell upon mankind. But in the generosity of God a new
springtime dawned, the lights of God shone forth, the effulgent Sun of
Reality returned and became manifest, the realm of thoughts and kingdom of
hearts became exhilarated, a new spirit of life breathed into the body of
the world and continuous advancement became apparent.
I hope that the lights of the Sun of Reality will illumine the whole world
so that no strife and warfare, no battles and bloodshed remain. May
fanaticism and religious bigotry be unknown, all humanity enter the bond
of brotherhood, souls consort in perfect agreement, the nations of earth
at last hoist the banner of truth and the religions of the world enter the
divine temple of oneness, for the foundations of the heavenly religions
are one reality. Reality is not divisible; it does not admit multiplicity.
All the holy Manifestations of God have proclaimed and promulgated the
same reality. They have summoned mankind to reality itself and reality is
one. The clouds and mists of imitations have obscured the Sun of Truth. We
must forsake these imitations, dispel these clouds and mists and free the
Sun from the darkness of superstition. Then will the Sun of Truth shine
most gloriously; then all the inhabitants of the world will be united, the
religions will be one, sects and denominations will reconcile, all
nationalities will flow together in the recognition of one fatherhood and
all degrees of humankind gather in the shelter of the same tabernacle,
under the same banner.
Until the heavenly civilization is founded, no result will be forthcoming
from material civilization, even as you observe. See what catastrophes
overwhelm mankind. Consider the wars which disturb the world. Consider the
enmity and hatred. The existence of these wars and conditions indicates
and proves that the heavenly civilization has not yet been established. If
the civilization of the Kingdom be spread to all the nations, this dust of
disagreement will be dispelled, these clouds will pass away and the Sun of
Reality in its greatest effulgence and glory will shine upon mankind.
THE DAWN OF PEACE
The fatherhood of God, His loving-kindness and beneficence are apparent to
all. In His mercy he provides fully and amply for His creatures and if any
soul sins He does not suspend His bounty. All created things are visible
manifestations of His fatherhood, mercy and heavenly bestowals. Human
brotherhood is likewise as clear and evident as the sun, for all are
servants of one God, belong to one humankind, inhabit the same globe, are
sheltered beneath the overshadowing dome of heaven and submerged in the
sea of divine mercy. Human brotherhood and dependence exist because mutual
helpfulness and cooperation are the two necessary principles underlying
human welfare. This is the physical relationship of mankind. There is
another brotherhood, the spiritual, which is higher, holier and superior
to all others. It is heavenly; it emanates from the breaths of the Holy
Spirit and the effulgence of merciful attributes; it is founded upon
spiritual susceptibilities. This brotherhood is established by the
Manifestations of the Holy One.
The divine Manifestations since the day of Adam have striven to unite
humanity so that all may be accounted as one soul. The function and
purpose of a shepherd is to gather and not disperse his flock. The
prophets of God have been divine shepherds of humanity. They have
established a bond of love and unity among mankind, made scattered peoples
one nation and wandering tribes a mighty kingdom. They have laid the
foundation of the oneness of God and summoned all to universal peace. All
these holy, divine Manifestations are one. They have served one God,
promulgated the same truth, founded the same institutions and reflected
the same light. Their appearances have been successive and correlated;
each one has announced and extolled the one who was to follow and all laid
the foundation of reality. They summoned and invited the people to love
and made the human world a mirror of the Word of God. Therefore the divine
religions they established have one foundation; their teachings, proofs
and evidences are one; in name and form they differ but in reality they
agree and are the same. These holy Manifestations have been as the coming
of springtime in the world. Although the springtime of this year is
designated by another name according to the changing calendar, yet as
regards its life and quickening it is the same as the springtime of last
year. For each spring is the time of a new creation, the effects,
bestowals, perfections and life-giving forces of which are the same as
those of the former vernal seasons although the names are many and
various. This is 1912, last year's was 1911 and so on, but in fundamental
reality no difference is apparent. The sun is one but the dawning-points
of the sun are numerous and changing. The ocean is one body of water but
different parts of it have particular designation, Atlantic, Pacific,
Mediterranean, Antarctic, etc. If we consider the names, there is
differentiation, but the water, the ocean itself is one reality.
Likewise the divine religions of the holy Manifestations of God are in
reality one though in name and nomenclature they differ. Man must be a
lover of the light no matter from what day-spring it may appear. He must
be a lover of the rose no matter in what soil it may be growing. He must
be a seeker of the truth no matter from what source it come. Attachment to
the lantern is not loving the light. Attachment to the earth is not
befitting but enjoyment of the rose which develops from the soil is
worthy. Devotion to the tree is profitless but partaking of the fruit is
beneficial. Luscious fruits no matter upon what tree they grow or where
they may be found must be enjoyed. The word of truth no matter which
tongue utters it must be sanctioned. Absolute verities no matter in what
book they be recorded must be accepted. If we harbor prejudice it will be
the cause of deprivation and ignorance. The strife between religions,
nations and races arises from misunderstanding. If we investigate the
religions to discover the principles underlying their foundations we will
find they agree, for the fundamental reality of them is one and not
multiple. By this means the religionists of the world will reach their
point of unity and reconciliation. They will ascertain the truth that the
purpose of religion is the acquisition of praiseworthy virtues, betterment
of morals, spiritual development of mankind, the real life and divine
bestowals. All the prophets have been the promoters of these principles;
none of them has been the promoter of corruption, vice or evil. They have
summoned mankind to all good. They have united people in the love of God,
invited them to the religions of the unity of mankind and exhorted them to
amity and agreement. For example, we mention Abraham and Moses. By this
mention we do not mean the limitation implied in the mere names but intend
the virtues which these names embody. When we say "Abraham" we mean
thereby a Manifestation of divine guidance, a center of human virtues, a
source of heavenly bestowals to mankind, a dawning-point of divine
inspiration and perfections. These perfections and graces are not limited
to names and boundaries. When we find these virtues, qualities and
attributes in any personality, we recognize the same reality shining from
within and bow in acknowledgment of the Abrahamic perfections. Similarly
we acknowledge and adore the beauty of Moses. Some souls were lovers of
the name Abraham, loving the lantern instead of the light and when they
saw this same light shining from another lantern they were so attached to
the former lantern that they did not recognize its later appearance and
illumination. Therefore those who were attached and held tenaciously to
the name Abraham were deprived when the Abrahamic virtues reappeared in
Moses. Similarly the Jews were believers in His Holiness Moses, awaiting
the coming of the Messiah. The virtues and perfections of Moses became
apparent in His Holiness Jesus Christ most effulgently but the Jews held
to the name Moses, not adoring the virtues and perfections manifest in
him. Had they been adoring these virtues and seeking these perfections
they would assuredly have believed in His Holiness Jesus Christ when the
same virtues and perfections shone in him. If we are lovers of the light
we adore it in whatever lamp it may become manifest but if we love the
lamp itself and the light is transferred to another lamp we will neither
accept nor sanction it. Therefore we must follow and adore the virtues
revealed in the messengers of God whether in Abraham, Moses, Jesus or
other prophets but we must not adhere to and adore the lamp. We must
recognize the sun no matter from what dawning-point it may shine forth, be
it Mosaic, Abrahamic or any personal point of orientation whatever, for we
are lovers of sunlight and not of orientation. We are lovers of
illumination and not of lamps and candles. We are seekers for water no
matter from what rock it may gush forth. We are in need of fruit in
whatsoever orchard it may be ripened. We long for rain it matters not
which cloud pours it down. We must not be fettered. If we renounce these
fetters we shall agree, for all are seekers of reality. The counterfeit or
imitation of true religion has adulterated human belief and the
foundations have been lost sight of. The variance of these imitations has
produced enmity and strife, war and bloodshed. Now the glorious and
brilliant twentieth century has dawned and the divine bounty is radiating
universally. The Sun of Truth is shining forth in intense enkindlement.
This is verily the century when these imitations must be forsaken,
superstitions abandoned and God alone worshiped. We must look at the
reality of the prophets and their teachings in order that we may agree.
Praise be to God! the springtime of God is at hand. This century is verily
the spring season. The world of mind and the kingdom of soul have become
fresh and verdant by its bestowals. It has resuscitated the whole realm of
existence. On one hand the lights of reality are shining; on the other the
clouds of divine mercy are pouring down the fullness of heavenly bounty.
Wonderful material progress is evident and great spiritual discoveries are
being made. Truly this can be called the miracle of centuries for it is
replete with manifestations of the miraculous. The time has come when all
mankind shall be united, when all races shall be loyal to one fatherland,
all religions become one religion and racial and religious bias pass away.
It is a day in which the oneness of humankind shall uplift its standard
and international peace like the true morning flood the world with its
light. Therefore we offer supplications to God, asking him to dispel these
gloomy clouds and uproot these imitations in order that the East and West
may become radiant with love and unity; that the nations of the world
shall embrace each other and the ideal spiritual brotherhood illumine the
world like the glorious sun of the high heavens.
THE CAUSE OF STRIFE
In the estimation of historians this radiant century is equivalent to one
hundred centuries of the past. If comparison be made with the sum total of
all former human achievements it will be found that the discoveries,
scientific advancement and material civilization of this present century
have equaled, yea far exceeded the progress and outcome of one hundred
former centuries. The production of books and compilations of literature
alone bear witness that the output of the human mind in this century has
been greater and more enlightening than all the past centuries together.
It is evident therefore that this century is of paramount importance.
Reflect upon the miracles of accomplishment which have already
characterized it, the discoveries in every realm of human research,
inventions, scientific knowledge, ethical reforms and regulations
established for the welfare of humanity, mysteries of nature explored,
invisible forces brought into visibility and subjection, a veritable
wonder-world of new phenomena and conditions heretofore unknown to man now
open to his uses and further investigation. The East and West can
communicate instantly. A human being can soar in the skies or speed in
submarine depths. The power of steam has linked the continents. Trains
cross the deserts and pierce the barriers of mountains; ships find
unerring pathways upon the trackless oceans. Day by day discoveries are
increasing. What a wonderful century this is! It is an age of universal
re-formation. Laws and statutes of governments civil and federal are in
process of change and transformation. Sciences and arts are being moulded
anew. Thoughts are metamorphosed. The foundations of human society are
changing and strengthening. Today sciences of the past are useless. The
ptolemaic system of astronomy, numberless other systems and theories of
scientific and philosophical explanation are discarded, known to be false
and worthless. Ethical precedents and principles cannot be applied to the
needs of the modern world. Thoughts and theories of past ages are
fruitless now. Thrones and governments are crumbling and falling. All
conditions and requisites of the past unfitted and inadequate for the
present time, are undergoing radical reform.